Tobacco leaf stringer



March 19, 1957 J. w. WEISNER 2,785,808

' TOBACCO LEAF STRINGER Filed Aug. 26, 1955 INVENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent TOBACCO LEAF STRINGER John W. Weisner, Highland Springs, Va., assignor of onehalf to Herbert T. Matthews, Highland Springs, Va.

Application August 26, 1955, Serial No. 530,847

8 Claims. (Cl. 214--5.5)

This invention relates to a novel device of extremely simple construction for securing bundles or hands of tobacco to a supporting stick from which the tobacco may thereafter be suspended in a curing or drying enclosure such as a barn.

More particularly, it is an aim of the invention to provide a device which may be efficiently utilized for quickly and accurately winding a string or cord successively about the stalks of bunches or hands of tobacco which are disposed on opposite sides of a tobacco stick so that the bunches or hands of tobacco will be suspended by the cord portions extending between the groups of stalks and which bear on the stick.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanical device which may be readily utilized to accomplish Work normally performed manually and which will effect a. substantial saving in the labor involved in accomplishing the operation.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawing, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the tobacco leaf stringer;

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view thereof, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the device, and

Figure 4 is a diagrammatical view of the electric circuit of the motor thereof.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, the tobacco leaf stringer in its entirety and comprising the invention is designated generally 6 and includes a frame, designated generally 7. The frame 7 includes corresponding side members, designated generally 8, having inwardly extending forward end portions 9 terminating in spaced apart substantially parallel terminal portions 10. The terminal portions 10 engage against the outer side of substantially diametrically opposite portions of a ring member 11 and are secured thereto, as by fastenings 12. The ring member 11 constitutes the forward end of the frame 7. Said ring member 11 is of substantial internal diameter, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, and has an outturned flange 13 at its forward end and against which the terminal portions 10 abut.

The side members 8 include substantially parallel spaced intermediate portions 14 which are connected by a pair of spaced substantially parallel bottom cross braces 15 the ends of which extend upwardly and are suitably secured to said side portions 14, and the intermediate portions 16 of which are downwardly offset a substantial distance from the frame members 8 and are disposed substantially coplanar to provide a supporting base for the frame 7. The side portions 14 are also connected by an upwardly bowed upper brace 17 which is substantially arch shaped and the ends of which are suitably secured to the side portions 14. The upper or top brace 17 provides a supporting handle for the stringer 6. The

"ice side members 8 of the frame 7 have opposite inwardly extending rear ends 18 the terminal portions of which abut against the front end wall of a motor casing 19 and are suitably secured thereto by fastening means 20 for supporting the motor 21, of which the casing 19 forms a part, in substantially axial alignment with the ring 11.

The stringer 6 is provided with a second handle 22 disposed to the rear and to one side of the frame 7 and which has a forwardly extending supporting arm 23 which is secured by fastenings 24 rigidly to one of the side portions 14, as best seen in Figure l.

The drive shaft 25 of the motor 21 extends forwardly from the end wall of the casing 19 to which the frame portions 18 are secured, between said frame portions 18. A disk or plate 26 is preferably secured to the forward end of the drive shaft 25 in a plane normal to the axis of said shaft and at the center of said disk or plate 26. The disk or plate 26 is secured in any suitable manner as by soldering or welding, as seen at 27 in Figure 2, to an end wall 28 of a cylindrical walled container 29. The container 29 is disposed between the plate or disk 26 and the ring 11 and is provided with a detachable opposite end wall 30 which is spaced from the ring 11 and which is provided with a flanged opening or boss 31 in which is secured one end of a hollow stem 32. The stem 32 extends forwardly from the wall 30 and its forward end 33 is disposed behind and spaced slightly from the ring 11, as seen in Figures 1 and 2. The boss 31 is eccentrically disposed relative to the axis of the container 29 for mounting the hollow stem eccentrically with respect to the container 29 and the shaft 25.

The power source 21 preferably constitutes a small electric motor and has electric wiring 34 leading therefrom. The motor 21 may be of the sixor twelve-volt type and the electric wires 34 thereof may be connected to a conventional storage battery, such as the battery of a tractor. A rheostat type switch 35 of any conventional construction is interposed in the electric wiring 34 for regulating current to the motor 21 to vary the speed at which the shaft 25 thereof will be revolved. The switch 35 is preferably mounted on one of the frame portions 18 adjacent the handle 22, as seen in Figure 1.

The container 29 is adaptedtto contain a ball or spool of string or cord 36 which is loosely disposed therein and an end 37 of which extends outwardly through the hollow stem 32 and through the ring 11.

As is conventional, bunches or hands of tobacco leaves 38 are laid with the stalks 39 thereof extending transversely across a tobacco stick 40 with the stalks 39 of the bunches 38 alternately disposed on opposite sides of the stick 40. The bunches 38 of the tobacco leaves when thus arranged may be supported on any suitable supporting surface 41, as illustrated in Figure 1, so that the stalks 39 extend outwardly from the tobacco stick 40. The terminal portion of the string end 37 may then be suitably secured as indicated at 42 to the stick, 40, adjacent an end thereof.

The stringer is then manually supported by the operator who grasps the bail type handle 17 with the left hand and the handle 22 with the right hand. The stringer 6 is then moved to position the ring 11 around the ends of the stalks 39 which are located adjacent the string anchorage 42. The switch 35 is then operated 'to cause, the shaft 25 to be revolved at a desired speed by the motor 21 for likewise rotating the container 29 and for causing the stem 32 thereof to revolve in a circular path around the stalk ends which are disposed within the ring 11, as best illustrated by the broken line 43 in Figure 3, so that the string or cord 37 will be wound several times, as illustrated at 44, about said stalk ends. The stringer 6 is then manually moved to similarly position the ring 11 and stem 32 relative to the ends of the next adjacent tive to the path of rotation of said stem. a a

stalks 39 andwhich are disposed on the opposite side of the stick 49. The motor remains inoperation .While the stringer is moved from engagement with one bunch of stalks to another as the cord is only drawn outwardly through the stern 32 when a poll is exerted thereon as by the cord being wound about a bunch of stalks It will be readily apparent that this operation can be rapidly repeated to similarly .Wind the string several times about the endsof the stalks of each bunch or hand 333. It will also be apparent that portions ofth e string disposed between the windings 44 of adjacent stalk bunches will extend diagonally across the stick 4!), so that after the 'Winding operation has been completed on' all .ofithe bunches of stalks of the stick 40 and threshing-37, similarly anchored to the other endofsaid stick and severed beyond the second anchorage, the stick 40 may he picked up horizontally and the bunches or :hands of tobacco leaves 33 Yention-al manner in a drying orcurin'g barn. f a

' From the foregoin'g'it will be readily apparent that a mechanically operated portable device of extremely simple construction has been provided byt'ne use of which bunches or hands of tobacco may be much more quickly strung on a stick thanxis possible if this operation is performed manually.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to, without departing from the function or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I. claim as my invention: t

l. A tobacco leaf stringer comprising a motor having a drive shaft, means connected -to and supported by said shaft for rotation therewith including a hollow stern disposed eccentrically relative to said shaft and through which a string loosely extends for winding the string about the stalks of a bunch of tobaccotleayes about which the stem is positioned to revolve, and a frame to which the motor is'secured and inwhich said means is disposed to rotate, said frame including a ring member constituting the forward end thereof,tsaid ring member being disposed will be supported thereby ready tolbe supported in a'ccnthe axis of rotation of the shaft for winding the string 7 about the stalks of tobacco leaves disposed adjacent said container end and substantiallyaaxially thereof,

5. .A tobacco stringer astin claim 4, a hollow stem fixed in said opening and eXtending ou wardly from said container end and through which the string loosely extends, said stern being adapted to revolve around the stalks.

posed to revolve, said frame including a ring member dis;

posed beyond said stem and through which the string is adapted to extend from the stem, thebore of said ring member being larger than the circle described by said stern when the container is revolved. 1

7. A tobacco leaf stringer as in claim'6, said frame including handles for manually supporting the tobacco f stringer, and means forming .a part of said frame and beyond and adjacent said stem'and through which the string from said stem is adapted to extend, said ring member providing a guide for centering the stalks rela- 2. A-tobacco stringer as in claim 1, said frame being provided with handles adapted to be manually engaged for supporting the stringer;

viding a supporting base for the stringer. t

8. A tobacco leaf stringer comprising a motor having a drive shaft, and means connected to and ,supQQrted-by said shaft for rotation therewith including a part forming a container for a ball of string and a hollow stcmextend ing'rfrom said part and disposed egcentrically relatiyeto, said shaft and through which the string extends loosely disposed beneath and spaced from the container and pro.-

from said part for, winding the string abqutstalks of bunch of tobacco leaves about which the sternis posi-i tioned to revolve;

References Gited in the file of this patent. L l UNITED STATES PATENTS Miles Oct. assists McNeil V Jan."16, 1951 6. A tobacco stringer as in claim 5, a frame to which said motor issecured and in which saidcontainer is dis- 

